After initial contact and the client has viewed our Web site, we set up an appointment to meet. At the first meeting my portfolios are viewed, the client's tastes/styles are determined, and the architecture of the house are considered. Any material the client has (magazine clippings, images from books, etc.) that helps to show me their taste is very helpful.

BEFORE

If agreed (and practicable at that time) digital shots of the proposed area(s) are taken. Digital imagery is charged at $100/sheet; usually it takes 2 to 3 shots for a typical front or back. Client is given our preliminary numbers sheet with numbers for bed preparation, transplants, removals, drip irrigation, and high, medium, low numbers for plants/design/install.

CADD IMAGE

The digital images are imported to my CADD program, the "look" is created and e-mailed to the client. Dialogue follows via e-mail and/or telephone. If needed, the image is tweaked to reflect client's input. A proposal with the specifics and agreed budget is written. We meet to go over the proposal, and if acceptable, the proposal is signed and a deposit is given. The image we create is meant to be a guide, not to represent the actual finished product. The actual design is done on-site,using the image as a guide.

AFTER

We apply herbicide to establish the new garden area. Using a rototiller we work the soil with composted manure and peat moss to create a great planting medium. The appropriate shrubs and perennials are brought to the job site. Using the generated images as a general guide, the new design is installed with the understanding that my clients are best served when I do composition on-site.